Three quarters of employers (76 percent) are communicating with staff more frequently about the benefits they offer, but only half of businesses (53 percent) think their workers have a good understanding of the full range of benefits provided, research has shown.
The survey, from Towergate Employee Benefits, found that the majority of employers (63 percent) think that hybrid working patterns continue to make it difficult to communicate the range of health and wellbeing support available to staff.
Employers told the survey that they believe making communications relevant to a diverse workforce is more complicated, with 64 percent of employers saying this is an issue.
With the majority of employers communicating benefits information more frequently, the range of media they use has also increased. Three quarters of respondents (75 percent) reported that they now use apps and digital platforms alongside more traditional communications.
Debra Clark, Towergate Employee Benefits head of wellbeing, said: “Benefits are effectively wasted if they are not communicated, and it is clear from our research that employers need some help in doing so, due to the shift in work settings and diverse employee profiles.”
“Although the research shows that employers are finding it harder to communicate health and wellbeing support well, the figures do also reveal that they are moving with the times and adapting their benefit communication to meet changing needs.”
Clark said that a successfully communicated benefits programme will assist with the recruitment, retention and engagement of employees, as well as reducing absence levels and increasing productivity.
“There are lots of ways for employers to communicate their full range of health and wellbeing support. Particularly with the emergence of digital platforms, there are now many communications options which can be a great way to help a benefits package provide value for money and a return on investment.”
